DR207 - PhD (Architecture & Design)

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Plan: DR207 - Doctor of Philosophy
Campus: City Campus

Overview

Program details
Purpose of the Program
Entrance requirements

Program details

Award title: Doctor of Philosophy
Award abbreviation: PhD
Career: RSCH
Duration: 3-4 years full-time, 6-8 years part-time
Location: RMIT City Campus
Owning school: Architecture & Urban Design (320H)
Owning school URL: www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/architecture-and-urban-design
ASCED code: 040101
CRICOS code: 079809F

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Purpose of the Program

The Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture and Design is designed to provide the framework, the focus and the discipline necessary to conduct speculative inquiry. The province of the PhD is the exploration of new territories of design research, contributions to the knowledge base of the discipline, and steps toward the redefinition of aspects of design. It also develops advanced technical research skills that will prepare you for a career in industry, academia and other settings in which systematic and critical analytical skills are required.

Research is conducted through designing and the process of designing as a means of increasing knowledge. Candidates are supported and engaged in communities of practice where learning is fundamentally a social phenomenon; where knowledge is integrated in the life of these communities which share interests, ideas, discourses, ways of doing things and exploring the boundaries of design thinking.

The Doctor of Philosophy may be undertaken in a project, thesis with publication or thesis mode. Prospective candidates should discuss these modes of submission with their potential supervisor/s prior to application.

Graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy will have developed the skills required to conduct independent research and contributed to the knowledge base of design research in their chosen field.

Upon graduation with a Doctor of Philosophy from RMIT University you will be able to pursue an academic career in a university or be employed in senior positions in galleries, museums, festivals, non-government organisations, art organisations, companies, venues and studios. You will also have the capacity to work as research fellows and post-doctoral research fellows on post-doctoral research projects in university and government organisations.  

 

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Entrance requirements

Applicants for doctor of philosophy programs must have completed one of the following from a recognised higher education institution:

  • a masters by research degree or,
  • a masters by coursework degree which includes research courses or a research project with a duration of at least 25% of a full-time (or equivalent part-time) academic year and an overall distinction average or,
  • a four year bachelor honours degree (with a minimum H2A achieved across the four years) or,
  • a three year bachelor degree and a one year bachelor honours degree program (with a minimum H2A achieved in the honours year) or
  • another award deemed to be equivalent in character and standard to the above degrees.

Alternatively applicants may:

  • provide evidence of appropriate academic qualifications and experience that satisfies the Dean of the School of Graduate Research or nominee that the applicant has developed knowledge of the field of study or cognate field and the potential for research sufficient to undertake the proposed program or,
  • have current candidature for an RMIT master by research program approved for transfer to a doctor of philosophy program through the process prescribed in the RMIT Higher Degree by Research policies and procedures.

For information on international qualifications and corresponding entry requirements that are equivalent to Australian academic entry requirements, see the Country equivalents webpage.

English Language Requirements

A minimum IELTS (academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band below 6.0; or equivalent. For equivalents to English entry requirements, see the English equivalents webpage.

Selection Tasks

These entrance requirements are the minimum academic standard you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for the program. You will need to complete a selection task as part of your application. For further information on the steps you need to take to apply for a research program see the How to apply – Research programs webpage.

The School of Architecture and Design does not accept applications to its research programs before a potential applicant has satisfied a Pre-application Process, which should be completed before lodging a formal application with RMIT’s School of Graduate Research, or with RMIT International. See the A&D Pre-Application document for more details.

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